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lIn the name of Allh, The Most Gracious, The Most Merciful

Topic of Discussion:Topic of Discussion:Topic of Discussion:Topic of Discussion: Characteristics of the ShCharacteristics of the ShCharacteristics of the ShCharacteristics of the Sh`a`a`a`a :::: adadadadthththth #1#1#1#1 [[[[ DiscussionDiscussionDiscussionDiscussion #2#2#2#2 ]]]]

Lectures on Akhlq given by His EminenceAyatullh al-`Um al-jj ash-Shaykh Nir Makrim ash-Shrz (may Allh protect him)

Translated by Saleem Bhimji www.al-mubin.org al-mubin@al-mubin.org

))a@pb((Topic: Characteristics of the Shi`a

Introduction:

he main area of discussion of Volume 65 of Bir al-Anwr is in regards to elucidating on thecharacteristics of the Sh`a (iftush Sh`a). How advantageous it would truly be that if we would allread this section (of Bir al-Anwr) and truly comprehend what a colossal responsibility we have

been given by being referred to with the sacred title of being Sh`a of the Ahl al-Bat (prayers be upon all ofthem).

One can not simply profess to be a Sh`a; only can not simply say that he is a Sh`a just because his mother andfather were Sh`a. Being a Sh`a is a concept so comprehensive that encompass many responsibilities whichhave thoroughly been explained by the Ma`mn (prayers be upon all of them) under the banner of iftushSh`a.

Muyassir ibn `Abdul `Azz was one of the most well known companions of Imm Muammad ibn `Al al-Bqir (prayers be upon him) who has also been highly praised in the books of `Ilmul Rijl. Imm Muammadal-Bqir (prayers be upon him) has also said the following in relation to Muyassir:

O Muyassir! Certainly death was prescribed for you on many occasions however Allh

(Glory and Greatness be to Him) delayed this event from coming to you since you maintain

your family relation (illatul Ram) and because you try and alleviate the problems of yourfamily members.

Text of the adth:Imm Muammad ibn `Al al-Bqir (prayers be upon him) once said to Muyassir:

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ExplanatoryExplanatoryExplanatoryExplanatory Translation:Translation:Translation:Translation: O Muyassir! Should I not describe to you who our Sh`a (truefollowers) are? Muyassir replied, But of course, may I be sacrificed for you (O Imm).The Imm continued, Unquestionably they (our Sh`a) are like a fortified stronghold; theirchests (hearts) are places that preserve the trusts (given to them secrets, and privateinformation) and are those that have a firm, dignified intelligence; they do not spread rumorsthat they are told (by others) and are not strict, severe people nor are they people who showoff. During the night time, they are as monks (they stay up in the night, busy in prayer and

worship of Allh) while during the daytime they are as lions (active and energetic, involvedin the activities of the world and their community.

In this concise adth, there are seven characteristics mentioned that one must possess to be classified as aSh`a. Truly, a veiled and hidden (comprehensive) world of subject-matter and responsibilities have beengiven in this saying.

It is possible that the meaning offortified strongholdcould mean that: our Sh`a are those that are neverinfluenced by the negative propaganda of the enemies. Right now, the state of the culture of the world is ina very dangerous position. Our youth are being faced with this (cultural) menace we have found any wayto strengthen the inner will of our youth in relation to this (cultural onslaught)? If we are not able to destroy

the causes of this sickness, then we must at least strengthen ourselves (to defend ourselves).

This point must also be kept in mind that during the time of the Aimmah (prayers be upon all of them), oneof their greatest complaints was that some of their Sh`a used to speak openly about their (the Aimmah)secrets. By this we mean that they were told that they must not speak about the great rank and status thatthe Aimmah (prayers be upon all of them) possess to just anybody.

The stations of: Knowledge of the Unseen of the Imm; the Intercession of the Imm for his followers on theDay of Judgment; The Aimmah being the custodians of the knowledge of the Messenger of Allh (blessingsof Allh be upon him and his family); them being witnesses and observers of all of the actions of the Sh`aand also their rewards and punishments and are all issues that the common people and the enemies of the

Ahl al-Bat (prayers be upon all of them) did not have the ability to endure hearing about and accepting asbeing fact.

There were some Sh`a that were very simple minded and would sit in any gathering and would proceed tospeak whatever they wanted (about the Aimmah) and this act of theirs did not bring about anything exceptfor division, enmity and hatred (for the Aimmah). Therefore, the Imm has said, Our Sh`a are they inwhose chests (hearts), secrets and trusts are kept.

The Aimmah have also said that their Sh`a are those who do not spread secrets of others without anyreason; they do not seek to cause division between two people and even worse than this, they do not go toextremes in the religion such as those that have recently come about. By using the pretext of having firm

belief in the Wilyah (of the Ahl al-Bat), such people use terminology (in relation to the Aimmah) thatwould be classified as bring them towards disbelief and expressions that are not befitting the Aimmah(prayers be upon all of them) and as such, the Aimmah would never be pleased with such people and theirwords and thus we too must be careful of this new form of Ghullaw.

These people have two defects in them which lead them towards their own destruction.

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First off they think that if they attribute the characteristics of Allh (Glory and Greatness be to Him) to theAimmah (prayers be upon all of them), Sayyidah Zainab (prayers be upon her) or the Shuhad of Karbalthen this is exactly what the definition of Wilyah demands.

The major defect in these people is - keeping in mind the present day and age (that we are living in) which isa time in which various ways and methods of diffusion of news and information are available such that ifsomething happens that makes the news headlines this morning, then within one hour, it will reach to thefurthest points of the world - that these people use words of exaggeration in relation to the Aimmah(prayers be upon all of them) and these incorrect statements that are made are spread far and wide and strikea huge blow to the Sh`a populous.

Once they say the things they want to say and when the news reaches to the various cities (of the world),people then proceed to scribble graffiti on the walls of their cities proclaiming the Sh`a to be disbelievers!After this of course, they then start to kill and murder the Sh`a. These simple minded, unaware peopleunknowingly utter some words that ultimately lead to the murder of the Sh`a in another part of the world!

May the curse of Allh be upon such uninformed individuals! May the curse of Allh be upon those

ignorant, unaware, uneducated people in whose hands are these Majlis (gatherings)! We must not let theorganization and planning of such gatherings and Majlis to lie in the hands of such people and thus, theirplanning must stay in the hands of the `Ulam of the society.

Of the characteristics that have been mentioned in the adth under discussion in relation to the Sh`a is thatthey do not get angry. The Sh`a are a people who are full of love and possess the traits of elegance andgrace; they have the soul and spirit (of action and speech) of `Al ibn Ab Slib (prayers be upon him) withinthemselves. They have the spirit of Imm as-diq and the rest of the Aimmah of true guidance (prayers beupon all of them) within themselves and thus, even show love and kindness to their enemies!

The true Sh`a do not show off. The Imm has said that: Our true Sh`a have two different states within

themselves. If one them is busy in the night time in the worship of Allh (Glory and Greatness be to Him)and someone sees them, then that person would think that this worshipper has cut himself off entirely fromthe world and is an ascetic since he does not do take part in the activities of this world. On the other hand,when anyone sees them in the day time, they would say that he is like a lion in his behavior and is alwayspresent in the daily activities of the society, keeping active.

With this said, we can divide the Sh`a and Muslims into one of the five following categories:

1. TheTheTheThe Geographical Muslim or Sh`a:Geographical Muslim or Sh`a:Geographical Muslim or Sh`a:Geographical Muslim or Sh`a: By this we mean that Sh`a that was born in (for example) Iran. Fromthe point of view of geography, Iran is a country where the Sh`a live and thus, when they want to count thenumber of Sh`a in the world, just being born here is used as a criteria and thus, this humble servant of Allh

is counted as being a Sh`a. So then if the person has true belief or not; if he know the names of the Aimmah(prayers be upon all of them) or not; if he can list the Aimmah in order that they came or not - it makes nodifference. These are what we refer to as Geographical Sh`a.

2. Sh`a by Inheritance:Sh`a by Inheritance:Sh`a by Inheritance:Sh`a by Inheritance: By this we mean those people whose father and mother were Sh`a and thus, theywere born into a family whose parents are Sh`a.

3. The Verbal Sh`a:The Verbal Sh`a:The Verbal Sh`a:The Verbal Sh`a: These are people that verbally declare that, We are the Sh`a of `Al ibn Abi Slib (prayersbe upon him) however there is no sign of this in their actions.

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4. The Marginal Sh`a:The Marginal Sh`a:The Marginal Sh`a:The Marginal Sh`a: These are Sh`a that practice the beliefs however are border-line and have not reachedto the true depths of Tashayyuh`. From the teachings of the Ahl al-Bat, they only thing you can see is theirtaking part in the `Azdr (mourning for the death of Imm al-usain) and seeking help and an intermediaryfrom the Aimmah (Tawassult) and other things such as this however, how else can we tell that these areSh`a? When the days of `shr come about, they all gather together to beat their chests and attend theMajlis of morning the death (of Imm al-usain) and rush to go to Masjid Jamkarn1 (to pray and performthe special prayers there).

We do not wish to say that these things have little importance rather, they are very, very importanthowever, this is all that they understand from Tashayyuh` and that is all. However, as for the characteristicof being as monks during the night (staying up in prayer and worship during the night) and being as a lionduring the day time (active and involved in the society) and possessing the beauty of intelligence andpreserving the trusts that are given to them (secrets), there are absolutely no signs of these in them.

5. The True Sh`a:The True Sh`a:The True Sh`a:The True Sh`a: These are people who have complete knowledge of the Divine (Allh) and the books of theAhl al-Bat (their sayings and words) and their way of life is just as has been mentioned in the characteristicsmentioned in this adth.

and all praise belongs to Allh, Lord of the Worlds, only the mistakes are mine. (Tr.)

1 A Masjid outside of Qum that was built by the order of the 12th Imm. (Tr.)